Garment dyeing process

ABSTRACT

A process for dyeing garments, to create a three-dimensional effect for ready-to-wear garments, through which a special effect was applied to the garment surfaces. The process includes pretreatment, dyeing, oxidation, saponification, treatment for special effect, and softening stage. The substances used therein include dyes (DIRESUL/SODYESUL), wetting agent, soda ash, reductant, oxidant, acetic acid, detergent, aqueous enzyme solution, enzyme powder, softener, and siloxane, etc. The garments treated by the dyeing process present a stereoscopic impression, bright color and cozy hand feel, and tender and smooth touches, the surface of which has a glittering and light reflecting effect.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a dyeing garment process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Since nowadays many customers, especially fashionable ladies,always enjoy dressing garments with gorgeous and special colors tofollow the fashion and pursue novelty, The fabric manufacturers havebeen creating clothes with splendid colors and vagarious appearance toattract and meet the demand of the customers, and thus to increase thesale's volume of their products. This leads to the market being full ofmany beautiful and various garments. Therefore, various garment dyeingprocesses are developed. One of the closest prior art to the presentinvention is disclosed in the Chinese Patent Application CN1094466A(application No. 93105265.3, published on Nov. 2, 1994). However, in thegarment-dyeing processes there exist the following disadvantages:

[0003] 1. high wastage rate of the garments, up to 10%-30%;

[0004] 2. poor color fastness, since the result garments can hardly comeup to international standard due to the use of solid sulfur dyes;

[0005] 3. tendency to be stained due to the high bacteriologicaladhesion, high biological characteristics and unnecessary antioxygenicsystem.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the existingdyeing processes, the present invention is directed to applying aspecial effect on the surface of a garment to give a three dimensionalimpression to the garment.

[0007] This invention provides a new process for dyeing garment,characterized by the following procedures:

[0008] Procedure I: Pretreatment

[0009] 1 g/l of a wetting agent and 1 g/l of soda ash (powder) are mixedinto water to form a mixture, which is then used to treat the garment ina mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixture to the garments,particularly, including the steps of:

[0010] 1) mixing the wetting agent and soda ash into water to form amixed liquor, adding the liquor into a dyeing machine. introducing thegarments into the mixed liquor in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect ofthe mixed liquor to the garments, and keeping the garments running at60° C. in dyeing machine for 10 min.;

[0011] 2) rinsing the garments once at 40° C. for 2 min.;

[0012] 3) dehydrating the garments by centrifuge for 3 min.; and

[0013] 4) drying the garments at 98° C. for 30 min.

[0014] Procedure II

[0015] (A) Dyeing Stage

[0016] The dyes (weighed on the color depth), an antioxidant and sodiumchloride are added into water to form a mixed liquor (dyes weighed oncolor depth/chemicals/sodium chloride+water), and used to treat thegarments in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to thegarments, particularly, including the steps of:

[0017] 1) mixing and adding the dyes, the antioxidant and 17 g/l ofsodium chloride into water to form a dyeing liquor, introducing thegarments into the dyeing liquor in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect ofthe dyeing liquor to the garments, and keeping the garments running at50° C. in the dyeing machine for 5 min.;

[0018] 2) heating to raise the temperature from 50° C. up to 70° C.within 10 min., then adding 50% sodium chloride, and keeping thegarments running at 70° C. in the dyeing machine for 15 min.; and

[0019] 3) rinsing the garments at 40° C. 3 times, for 2 minutes at eachtime.

[0020] (B) Oxidation Stage

[0021] The oxidant and acetic acid are mixed and added into water toform a mixed liquor, which is then fed into a dyeing machine and used totreat the colored garments in mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of themixed liquor to the garments, particularly including the steps of:

[0022] 1) mixing and adding 0.4% of the oxidant and 1.2 g/l of aceticacid into water to form a water-bathing mixed liquor, adjusting the pHvalue of the mixed liquor to 4, and then, introducing the coloredgarments into the liquor in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of themixed liquor to the garments, and keeping the garments running at 70° C.in the dyeing machine for 15 min.; and

[0023] 2) rinsing the garments once at 40° C. for 2 min.

[0024] (C) Saponification (Soaping) Stage

[0025] A detergent and soda ash are mixed and added into water to form amixed liquor, which is used to treat the garments in a mass ratio of15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to the garments, particularly,including the steps of:

[0026] 1) mixing and adding 0.5 g/l of the detergent and 0.5 g/l of sodaash into water to form a mixed liquor, introducing the garments in amass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to the garments, andkeeping the garments running at 60° C. in the dyeing machine for 15min.;

[0027] 2) rinsing the garments once at 40° C. for 2 min.

[0028] 3) dehydrating the garments by centrifuge for 3 min.; and

[0029] 4) drying the garments at 98° C. for 30 min.

[0030] Procedure III

[0031] (A) Treatment for Special Effect

[0032] An aqueous enzyme solution and enzyme powder (ash) as well asacetic acid are mixed into water to form a mixed liquor, which is fedinto a dyeing machine to treat the garments in a mass ratio of 15:1 withrespect of the mixed liquor to the garments, particularly, including thesteps of:

[0033] 1) mixing 1.4% of the aqueous enzyme solution and 1.4% of enzymepowder as well as 0.3 g/l of acetic acid into water to form the mixedliquor, adjusting the pH value of the mixed liquor to 4, thenintroducing the garments in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of themixed liquor to the garments, and keeping the garments running at 55° C.in the dyeing machine for 30 min.;

[0034] 2) raising the temperature up to 80° C. in 2 min.; and

[0035] 3) rinsing the garments at 40° C. twice, for 2 minutes at eachtime.

[0036] (B) Softening

[0037] A softening agent and a siloxane are mixed into water to form amixed liquor, which is then fed into a dyeing machine to treat thegarments in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to thegarments, particularly, including the steps of:

[0038] 1) mixing 8% of the softening agent and 4% of the siloxane aswell as 0.1 g/l of acetic acid into water to form a mixed liquor,feeding the mixed liquor into a dyeing machine, introducing the garmentsin a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to thegarments, and keeping the garments running at 40° C. in the dyeingmachine for 10 min.;

[0039] 2) dehydrating the garments by centrifuge for 3 min.; and

[0040] 3) drying the garments at 98° C. for 30 min., thus obtaining thefinished garments.

[0041] In each related procedure of the aforesaid dyeing treatmentprocess, the garments are treated by running in an open dyeing machinewith the mixed liquor in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixedliquor to the garments.

[0042] Said wetting agent is polyalkyl ether, a nonionic surfactant.Said antioxidant is sodium sulphide. Said oxidant is a solution ofhydrogen peroxide. Said saponifying (soaping) agent is polyalkyl ether.Said aqueous enzyme solution and said enzyme powder are prepared from akind of cellulase. Said softening agent is a polycondensate of aliphaticpolyamides.

[0043] Compared with the prior art dyeing processes, the garment dyeingprocess according to the present invention has a broad scope ofapplication. It is applicable to various types of garments as listedbelow:

[0044] 1. common or special woven fabrics;

[0045] 2. fine or special knitted fabrics;

[0046] 3. cotton, cotton blended and pure wool knitted fabrics(including various sweater fabrics) in any specification or yarn.

[0047] Furthermore, compared with the dyeing processes of prior art, thegarment dyeing process according to the present invention has thefollowing advantages in the treatment of ready-to-wear garments:

[0048] 1. low damage rate of 3%-5% of the garments;

[0049] 2. excellent color fastness, easy to come up to internationalstandard;

[0050] 3. difficult to be stained due to the low bacteriologicaladhesion, low biological characteristic, and necessary antioxygenicsystem introduced.

[0051] The finished garments undergone dyeing treatment by the processas mentioned above according to the present invention have the followingadvantages:

[0052] 1. strong three-dimensional impression;

[0053] 2. glittering and light reflecting surfaces.;

[0054] 3. tender and smooth texture, bright and beautiful color, as wellas cozy hand feel.

[0055] The present invention is friendly to the environment. Havingtreated by the process of the present invention, various fabrics willobtain a special effect, and the quality is thereby improved. Thepresent invention relates to a new process which is applied in garmentindustry. It will play an important role in the market of appareldesign, and will become a key to the fine effect for garments,especially when used in bleaching, dyeing, and washing. The effect iscalled an uncommon or special bleaching- dyeing-washing effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056]FIG. 1 schematically shows the pretreatment procedure of thepresent invention;

[0057]FIG. 2 schematically shows the dyeing and oxidation procedure ofthe present invention;

[0058]FIG. 3 schematically shows the saponification stage of the presentinvention;

[0059]FIG. 4 schematically shows the special effect treatment and thesoftening stage of the present invention;

[0060]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the whole garment-dyeing process ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0061] To illustrate the procedures of the dyeing process according tothe present invention, a preferred example is described in detail withreference to the drawings.

[0062] In order to create a three-dimensional impression on aready-to-wear garment, a special effect was applied to the surface ofthe garment. In each of the procedures in the dyeing treatment process,each of the dyeing machine employed was an open dyeing machine (550 Ib),and the garments were treated in the dyeing machine by running withmixed liquor in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor tothe garments . The particular procedures of the process were as follows:

[0063] Procedure I, Pretreatment

[0064] As shown in FIG. 1,

[0065] 1) a mixed liquor was formed by mixing 1500 grams of 1 g/lpolyalkyl ether as a wetting agent, and 1500 grams of 1 g/l soda ashinto 1500 liters of water. 100 kg of the garments were introduced in themixed liquor in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor tothe garments. The garments were kept running at 60° C. in the dyeingmachine for 10 min. The wetting agent used therein was a nonionic typelow foaming surfactant having a synergic effect, with a trade name ofFORYL SF.

[0066] 2) The garments were rinsed once at 40° C. for 2 min.

[0067] 3) The garments were dehydrated by centrifuge for 3 min.

[0068] 4) The garments were dried at 98° C. for 30 min.

[0069] Procedure II

[0070] 1. Dyeing Stage

[0071] As shown in FIG. 2,

[0072] 1) A dye bath was formed by mixing 6.5 kg of 6.5% brown dye GNCF,2.8 kg of 2.8% black dye 4GCF, 2 kg of 2% brown dye CRCF, 6000 kg of 4g/l sodium sulphide as an antioxidant, and 25.5 g of 17 g/l sodiumchloride into 1500 liters of water. Then 100 kg of the garments wereintroduced into the dye bath. The garments were kept running at aconstant temperature of 50° C. in the dyeing machine for 5 min. The dyesused therein were all obtained from Sandoz Chemical Engineering Co.,Ltd.

[0073] 2) By heating, the temperature was raised from 50° C. up to 70°C. within 10 min. Then, 50% sodium chloride was added. The garments werekept running at a constant temperature of 70° C. in the dyeing machinefor 15 min.

[0074] 3) The garments were rinsed at 40° C. 3 times, for 2 minutes ateach time.

[0075] 2. Oxidation Stage

[0076] As shown in FIG. 2,

[0077] 1) A mixed liquor was formed by mixing 400 g of 0.4% solution ofhydrogen peroxide and 1800 g of 1.2 g/l acetic acid into 1500 liters ofwater. The pH value of the mixed liquor was adjusted to 4. And then, 100kg of the garments were introduced and kept running at a constanttemperature of 70° C. in the dyeing machine for 15 min.

[0078] 2) The garments were then rinsed once at 40° C. for 2 min.

[0079] 3. Saponification Stage

[0080] As shown in FIG. 3,

[0081] 1) A mixed liquor was formed by mixing 750 g of 0.5 g/l polyalkylether as a saponifying agent and 750 g of 0.5 g/l soda ash into 1500liters of water. Then 100 kg of the garments were introduced and keptrunning at a constant temperature of 60° C. in the dyeing machine for 15min. The saponifying agent used therein was a nonionic, nonfoaming typesurfactant for textiles, produced by Henkel China Limited.

[0082] 2) The garments were rinsed once at 40° C. for 2 min.

[0083] 3) By centrifuge, the garments were dehydrated for 3 min.

[0084] 4) Then, the garments were dried at 98° C. for 30 min.

[0085] Procedure III

[0086] 1. Treatment For Special Effect

[0087] As shown in FIG. 4,

[0088] 1) A mixed liquor was formed by mixing 700 g of 1.4% of anaqueous enzyme solution, 700 g of 1.4% enzyme powder, and 225 g of 0.3g/l acetic acid into 1500 liters of water. The pH value of the mixedliquor was adjusted to 4. And then, 100 kg of the garments wereintroduced and kept running at 55° C. for 30 min. Said aqueous enzymesolution and said enzyme powder were prepared from a cellulase, producedby Purident (Asia) Limited;

[0089] 2) Within 2 min., the temperature was raised up to 80° C.

[0090] 3) The garments were then rinsed twice at 40° C., for 2 min eachtime.

[0091] 2. Softening

[0092] As shown in FIG. 4,

[0093] 1) A mixed liquor was formed by mixing 4 kg of 8% softeningagent, 2 kg of 4% siloxane and 150 g of 0.1 g/l acetic acid into 1500liters of water. Then, 100 kg of the garments were introduced and keptrunning at 40° C. for 10 min. The softening agent used therein was anpseudo cationic type polycondensate of aliphatic polyamide, produced byHenkel China Limited in a trade name of BELLAIN 44.

[0094] 2) By centrifuge, the garments were dehydrated for 3 min.

[0095] 3) Subsequently, the garments were dried at 98° C. for 30 min.,and thus the finished garments were obtained;

[0096]FIG. 5 schematically shows the integral flow chart of the processaccording to the present invention, of which all of the reductants andoxidants used are produced by Sandoz Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd.

[0097] The present invention has been described above in detail,however, the above example is only a preferable mode for carrying outthe invention, but not in any way intended to limit the scope of theinvention. Various changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and teaching of the invention defined by theappended claims, all of which should be regarded to fall into the scopeof the invention.

1. A garment dyeing process, characterized by the following proceduresProcedure I, pretreatment, wherein 1 g/l of a wetting agent and 1 g/l ofsoda ash are mixed into water to form a mixture, and used to treat thegarments in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixture to thegarments, including the steps of: 1) mixing the wetting agent and sodaash into water to form a mixed liquor, introducing the mixed liquor intoa dyeing machine, adding the garments into the mixed liquor in a massratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to the garments, andkeeping the garments running at 60° C. in the dyeing machine for 10min., 2) rinsing the garments once at 40° C. for 2 min., 3) dehydratingthe garments by centrifuge for 3 min., and 4) drying the garments at 98°C. for 30 min.; Procedure II (A) dyeing stage, wherein dyes (weighed oncolor depth), an antioxidant and sodium chloride are added into water toform a mixed liquor (dyes weighed on color depth/chemicals/sodiumchloride+water), which is used to treat the garments in a mass ratio of15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to the garments, including thesteps of: 1) mixing the dyes, the antioxidant and 17 g/l of sodiumchloride into water to form a dyeing liquor, introducing the garmentsinto a dyeing liquor in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the dyeingliquor to the garments, and keeping the garments running at 50° C. inthe dyeing machine for 5 min., 2) heating to raise the temperature from50° C. up to 70° C. within 10 min., then adding 50% sodium chloride, andkeeping the garments running at 70° C. in the dyeing machine for 15min., and 3) rinsing the garments at 40° C. 3 times, for 2 minutes eachtime; (B) oxidation stage, wherein the oxidant and acetic acid are mixedinto water to form a mixed liquor, and then the mixed liquor is fed intoa dyeing machine and used to treat the garments in a mass ratio of 15:1with respect of the mixed liquor to the garments, including the stepsof: 1) mixing 0.4% of the oxidant and 1.2 g/l of acetic acid into waterto form a water bathing mixed liquid, adjusting the pH value of themixed liquor to 4, then introducing the colored garments in a mass ratioof 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to the garments, and keepingthe garments running at a constant temperature of 70° C. in a dyeingmachine for 15 min., and 2) rinsing the garments once at 40° C. for 2min., (C) saponification stage, wherein, a detergent and soda ash aremixed into water to form a mixed liquor, which is used to treat thegarments in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to thegarments, including the steps of: 1) mixing 0.5 g/l of the detergent and0.5 g/l of soda ash into water to form a mixed liquor, introducing thegarments in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to thegarments, and keeping the garments running at a constant temperature of60° C. in the dyeing machine for 15 min., 2) rinsing the garments onceat 40° C. for 2 min., 3) dehydrating the garments by centrifuge for 3min., and 4) drying the garments at 98° C. for 30 min.; and ProcedureIII (A) treatment for special effect, wherein a mixed liquor is formedby mixing an aqueous enzyme solution, enzyme powder, and acetic acidinto water, and the mixed liquor is fed into a dyeing machine and usedto treat the garments in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixedliquor to the garments, including the steps of: 1) mixing 1.4% of theaqueous enzyme solution, 1.4% of the enzyme powder, and 0.3 g/l ofacetic acid into water to form a mixed liquor, adjusting the pH value ofthe mixed liquor to 4, then introducing the garments in a mass ratio of15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to the garments, keeping thegarments running at a constant temperature of 55° C. in the dyeingmachine for 30 min., 2) raising the temperature up to 80° C. within twomin., and 3) rinsing the garments at 40° C. twice, for 2 minutes eachtime, (B) softening, wherein a mixed liquor is formed by mixing asoftening agent and a siloxane into water, and the mixed liquor is fedinto a dyeing machine and used to treat garments in a mass ratio of 15:1with respect of the mixed liquor to the garments, including the stepsof: 1) mixing 8% of the softening agent, 4% of the siloxane, and 0.1 g/lof acetic acid into water to form a mixed liquor, feeding the mixedliquor into the dyeing machine, introducing the garments in a mass ratioof 15:1 with respect of the mixed liquor to the garments, and keepingthe garments running at a constant temperature of 40° C. in the dyeingmachine for 10 min., 2) dehydrating the garments by centrifuge for 3min., and 3)drying the garments at 98° C. for 30 min., thus obtainingthe finished garments; wherein in each procedures of said process, anopen dye machine is employed to treat the garments therein by running itwith mixed liquor in a mass ratio of 15:1 with respect of the mixedliquor to the garments.
 2. The garment dyeing process according to claim1, characterized by said wetting agent being polyalkyl ether, a nonionicsurfactant, said antioxidant being sodium sulphide, said oxidant beingan solution of hydrogen peroxide, said saponifying agent being polyalkylether, said aqueous enzyme solution and said enzyme powder being madefrom an cellulase, and said softening agent being an polycondensate ofaliphatic polyamides.